Detachable bail-shaped handle for rimmed cans



Feb. 17, 1953 w. J. DorY DETACHABLE BAIL-SHAPED HANDLE FOR RIMMED CANS Filed Feb. 18, 1947 ATTORNEY Patented Feb. 17, 1953 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE DETACHABLE BAIL-SHAPED HANDLE FOR RIMMED CANS William VJ. Doty, Port Richmond, N. Y. Application February 18, 1947, Serial No. 729,309

` 16 Claims.

This invention relates to handles and detachable handles and more particularly to detachable handles for paint cans though it is noted that in some of the claims the invention is not limited to paint can handles nor even to detachable handles.

Objects of the invention are to provide an improved handle of this kind which may be easily attached to an ordinary paint can in which the paint may be bought, and which handle will dispose itself out of the way of the paint brush when the can is set down. l

Other objects of the invention are to provide a handle of this kind which may vbe easily detached but will not become accidentally detached.

.Y Additional objects of the invention are to eiiect simplicity and eiiicency in such handles and to provide an extremely simple handle of this kind which is convenient and reliable in operation, and economical to manufacture.

Stillother objects of the invention will appear as the description proceeds; and while herein details of the invention are described in the specication and some of the claims, the invention as described in the Ibroader claims is not limited to .these .and many and various changes may be made without departing from the scope of 4the invention as claimed in the broader claims.

" The inventive features for the accomplishment 'of these and other objects are shown herein as embodied in a vdetachable handle which is shown for convenience in connection with a can having an inturned rim on the edge of the can wall and forming upwardly and downwardly opening annular grooves. Said handle comprises a bail `"part having at each end an inwardly turned part disposed over the rim and bent downwardly and underthe rim to form a U-shaped part having an upwardly and outwardly disposed free arm having its free end `pivotally pressing against thecan wall and the rim when the bail part lifts theV can. A tubular bushing secured fast on each outeriend of the .bail part above said rim receives ail-bolt slidable' in said bushing to extend below the edgefof the can. The handle and rim are such .that when the bail is freely inclined, said free vend Y'will pivotally engage said rim and can wall while the top of the bail part is disposed awayfrom; over the can. In'the accompanying drawing showing, by way of example, one of many possible embodiments ofthe invention,

Fig. l is a `front elevation, partly in radial section, showing the can in lifted position; 2 is a fragmental side elevation showing the canrestng on a support;

' Figs. 3 and 4 are respectively fragmental front and side elevations of the bushing and adjacent part-s, showing different positions of the bolt;

Fig. 5 shows a section on the line 5 5 of Fig. 3.

My improved handle ID is shown attached to a paint can II having a cylindrical side wall I2 and a sheet metal inner rim I3 having an outer bead I4 crimped over the edge of the side wall, the rim being formed next to the bead with an annular substantially horizontal part I5, and inwardly of the horizontal part with an upwardly opening annular groovel forming upstanding inner and outer groove walls I1, I8, the inner groove wall Il forming next to the groove a cancap-receiving face for receiving a cap (not shown) for closing the can. The groove, wall next to said side wall forms with the side wall a downwardly opening groove I9. I

Said handle IIJ comprises a piece of resilient or exible wire bent to form a curved bail part 20, the wire being inwardly bent at each end of the bail part to form an inwardly disposed substantially horizontal part 2I disposed over the rim I3. The wire at the inner end of said kpart 2I is bent downwardly and under the upwardly opening groove to form a lower U-shaped part 22 having a free arm extending upwardly and outwardly to press against and pivotally engage the side wall with its free end 24 and terminating .below the downwardly opening groove, as shown in dotted lines at 24a, when said inturned part is in lower position, said free end 24 being urged by the elasticity of the bail part 20 to engage with the side wall and the lower face of said annular horizontal part I5, as shown by the full lines, when thelbail part israised and the can 1s lifted.

A tubular vbushing 25 of elongated cross-section is inwardly crimped fast around each outer end of the bail part Z providing a rod-shaped aperture 26 at the outer side of said outer end, and disposed with its lower extended axis exterior to and above said bead I4. A wire Ibolt 2'I slidable in said aperture has a laterally out-turned ma# nipulating piece 28 at the upper end adapted to engage the bushing to limit downward movement of the bolt, the lower part of the bolt when low-- ered, extending adjacent to and below the bead for holding the U-shaped part against inward movement and detachment from the rim.-`

Said Ibolt 2l has a wide fiat wedge-shaped lower end 29 to prevent the bolt from leavingpthe bushing, said end 29 being adapted to when the bolt is forcibly raised to Wedge in the bushing to holdthe bolt raised to lallow the U-shaped 3 part 22 to be forced inwardly to the position of the dotted lines to detach the handle. The elasticity of the bail part can at all times maintain the pivotal engagement of the free end 24 with the can wall even when the bolt is raised.

The height of the bail part 2G, the diameter of the can, and the distance of said free end 2&3, said inturned part 2|, said annular part I3 and said bead Ill from each other are such that when the bail is left free to be inclined as in Fig. 2, the free end 24 of said free arm will engage said annular part I and pivotally engage said side wall I2 while said inturned part 2l may engage the bead I4 or inner wall I'I and hold the bai-l part at an inclined angle at either side of the can with the top 28 away from over the can a distance 3B (Fig. 2) to give a paint brush free access to the can without contact of the bail part with the can or brush, thereby to keep the bail part and the hands clean.

Thev handle is, when the bolt 2 is raised, detachable from the can by inwardly flexing the bail ends and U-shaped part to the position of the dotted lines 29a, 2Ia, 24a; and the flexibility of the wire allows the bail part to be flexed to adapt it to cans of different diameters. Larger or smaller bails may be provided for very large or very small cans.

The operation of the handle will be easily understood from the. foregoing. After the cap of the'can has been removed, the handle may be easily attached by raising the bolts 27 until the attened end 29 wedges. Then the bail part may be inwardly flexed to allow the successive or simultaneous insertion of the free ends 211 to a position under the rim I3: against the can wall I2, after which the bolts may be lowered. When the can is being lifted with paint therein, the parts assume the full line position of Fig. 1. When the can of paint is set down, the handle pivots on the free ends 24 and assumes the position of Fig. 2 out of the way of the paint brush or dripping paint. The bolt 27 is shown raised in Fig. 2, to show that the inturned part rests on the bead I4; but in use the bolt would be lowered asin Figs. l and 3 and the dotted lines of Fig. 4. Thebolt is adapted for partial rotation on its axis asshown by the different positions of Figs. 1 and 3,

I claim as my invention l. A handle for attachment to a can having a rim; said handle comprising a one-piece wire bail part having at each end a substantially horizontalY part over the rim and an inclined free arm pivotally engaging the side wall under the rim; the handle, said part, arm and rim being such that when the bail is inclined, said free end will pivotally engage said rim and side wall while the `top of the bail part is disposedaway from over the can.

2. A handle for attachment to a. can having an inturned rim; said handle comprising a resilient vwire bail part having at each end a part under the riin having an upwardly and outwardly turned free arm havingV its free end outwardly urged to engage the side wall; av bolt slidable on each end of the bail part to extend above or below the top edge of, and exterior to, the can; said handle being, when the bolt is raised, detachable from the canrby inwardly exing the bail ends and U- shaped part to a position inward of the rim; the flexibility. of the wire allowing the bail `part to be bent to adapt it to cans of' differentv diameters.

3.. A handle comprising a bail part having at each end an inwardly turned part, the inner end of said inwardly turned part being bent downwardly, outwardly and upwardly and having a free end; a tubular bushing secured around each outer end of the bail part; a bolt slidable in said bushing and having an outturned piece at the upper end, the lower part of the bolt being fiattened and wide; the lower end of the bolt when raised being nearly as elevated as said inwardly turned part.

4. A handle for attachment to a can having a side wall and an inturned rim on the edge of the wall and forming an upwardly opening annular groove, and forming with the side wall a downwardly opening groove; said handle comprising a bail part having at each end an inwardly turned part disposed over the rim and bent downwardly and under the rim to form a U-shaped part having an upwardly and outwardly free arm having its free end pivotally engaging the side wall and the rim when the bail part lifts the can; a tubular bushing secured fast on each outer end of the bail part above said rim; a bolt slidable in said bushing to extend below the edge of the can; the handle and rim being such that when the bail part is inclined, said free end wil1pivotally engage said rim and side wall while the top of the bail part is disposed away from over the can.

5. A handle for attachment to. a can having a cylindrical side wall' and a rimhaving bead crimped on the edge of the wall; the rim being formed next to the bead with a substantially horizontal part, and inwardly thereof with an upwardly opening annular groove and with the side wall a downwardly opening groove; said handle comprising a resilient bail part having at each end an inwardly turned part disposed over the rim; the inner end of said inwardly turned part being bent downwardly and under the upwardly opening groove to form a U-sh-aped part having a free arm initially extending upwardly toward the downwardly opening groove having its free end urged to pivotally engage the side wall,. and engageable with the lower face of said annular part and the can wall when the bail part is raised to lift the can; a tubular bushing secured around each outer end of the bail part above said bead; a bolt slidable in said bushing and having an outturned piece at the. upper end; the lower part of the bolt being flattened and wide and when lowered, extending below the bead; said bolt when raised, allowing the U-shaped part to move inwardly to detach the handle from the can; parts of the handle and can being such that when the bail is inclined, said free end will pivotally engage said annular part and side wall and allow the bail part to assume an inclined angle with its top away from over the can.

6. A handle for attachment to a can having a side wall and an inturned rim having a bead on the edge of the wall and an annular hori- 'zontal part adjacent to the bead, the rim foriningv an upwardly opening annular groove, and forming with said` horizontal party andthe side wall a. downwardly opening groove; said' handle comprising a wire forming. a bail part, the wire being bent at each` end of the. bail part to form an inwardly disposed substantially horizontal part disposed over the rim. andA adapted initially to rest on the outer bead; the wire at the inner end of the horizontal part being bent downwardly and under the upwardly opening groove to form a lower U-shaped part having a free arm initially extending upwardly and.' outwardly to engage side wall with its free end and initially terminating below the downwardly opening groove when saidhorizontalpart (rests on the bead, saidfree end being engageable with the sidewall and the lower face `of said annular horizontal part when the bail part is raised to lift the can; the `height ofthe bail part, the diameter of the can and the distance of said free and said horizontal part and said bead from each other, being such that when thebail is left free to be inclined, the free end of said free arm will engage said annular horizontal part and pivotally engage said side wall 'while said inturned part may engage the bead and hold the bail part at an upwardly inclined angle with its'top away from over the can, to give a brush free access to the can vwithout contact of the bail part with the can or brush, thereby to keep the bail part and handle clean.

7.VA handle for attachment toa can having an inturned rim; said handle comprising a ybail part having at' each end an inwardly turned part disposed over the rim and bent Vdownwardly and under the rim to form a U-shaped part having an upwardly and outwardly turned free arm having its free end pivotally engaging the side wall and the rim when the bailvpart lifts the can; a tubular bushing ofelongated crosssection inwardly crimped fast around each outer end of the bail part and providing a rod-shaped aperture outside of said outer end, and disposed with its lower extended axis exterior to and above said bead; a wire bolt slidable in said aperture and having a laterally out-turned manipulating piece at the upper end adapted to engage the bushing to limit downward movement of the bolt; the lower part of the bolt when lowered, extending adjacent to and below the bead and holding the U-shaped part against detachment from the rim.

8. A handle for attachment to a can having an inturned rim; said handle comprising a bail part having at each end an inwardly turned part disposed lover the rim and bent downwardly and under the rim to form a U-shaped part having an upwardly and outwardly turned free arm having its free end pivotally engaging the side wall and the rim when the bail part lifts the can; a tubular bushing secured fast on each outer end of the bail part above said rim; a bolt slidable in said bushing to extend the lower part of the bolt below the edge of the can; said lower part having a wide at lower end Y to prevent the bolt from leaving the bushing and adapted when the bolt is raised to wedge in the bushing to hold the bolt raised to allow the U-shaped part to move inwardly to detach the handle.

9. A handle for attachment to a paint can having a cylindrical side wall and a sheet metal rim having an outer bead crimped over the edge of the side wall; the rim being formed next to the bead with an annular substantially horizontal part, and inwardly of the horizontal part with an upwardly opening annular groove forming upstanding inner and outer groove walls; the inner groove wall forming next to the groove a can-cap-receiving face; the groove wall next to said side wall forming with the side wall a downwardly opening groove; said handle comprising a, piece of resilient or exible wire bent to form a curved bail part; the wire being bent at each end of the bail part to form an inwardly disposed substantially horizontal part disposed over the rim and adapted initially to rest on the upwardly opening groove to `form a lower U- shaped part having a free arm initially extending upwardly and outwardly to pivotally engage the cylindrical inner face of the` side wall with its end and initially terminatingbelow the downwardly opening groove when said horizontalpart rests on the bead, `said end `being engageable with the side wall and the lower face of said annular horizontal part when the bailA part is raised to lift the can. i Y I 10. A handle for attachment to acan having a wall and an upper rim projecting from the wall and having an upper face and a lower face; said handle comprising a bail part having at each end a substantially horizontal part over the rim and a free end disposed under the rim; the height of the handle and the distance of said free ends from the horizontal parts of the handle being such that when the bail is inclined,- said free end will engage said lower face` and said horizontal part will engage said upper face and allow the bail part to assume an inclined angle with its top away from over the can, to give a paint brush free access to the can without contact of the bail part with the can or brush.

l1. In combination, a can having a wall having at its rim having an upper part a projecting upper face and a lower face, the wall being imperforate below the rim; a handle comprising a bail part having at each end a substantially horizontal part over the rim and a free end disposed under the rim; the height of the handle and the distance of said free ends from the horizontal parts of the handle being such that when the bail is inclined, said free end will engage said lower face and said horizontal part will engage said upper face and allow the bail part to assume an inclined angle with its top away from over the can.

12. A handle for attachment to a can having an imperforate wall and an inturned rim having an upper face and a lower face; said handle comprising a bail part having at each end a substantially horizontal part inturned for disposal over the rim, and a free end adapted to be disposed under the rim; the height of the handle and the distance of said free ends from the horizontal parts of thehandle being such that when the bail is inclined, said free end will engage said lower face and said horizontal part will engage said upper face and hold the bail part at an inclined angle with its top away from over the can. Y

13. In combination, a can having a wall and a projecting rim having an upper face and a lower face, the wall being imperforate under the rim; -a handle comprising a bail part having at each end a substantially horizontal part over the rim and a free end disposed under the rim and engaging the imperforate part of the wall near the rim with enough force to pivot at the point of engagement and hold said free end from wandering laterally.

14. A handle for attachment to a can having an inturned rim and an imperforate wall part just under the rim; said handle comprising a bail part having at each end an inwardly turned part disposable over the rim; the inner end of said inwardly turned part being bent downwardly and outwardly under the rim; a bushing secured to each outer end of the bail part axially parallel thereto; and a bolt slidable in said bushing and disposable lower than the rim exterior to the can. Y

150 combination, a, can having an inturned rim,-l ajnd an imperforate W221i part just under the rim; ar handle comprising.' ai baiI resilient part' having at each end an inwardly turned pari; disposable over' the rim; theA inner end of 5 said inwardly' turned hook neri: being bent downwardly and outwardly' under the rim; a tubular bushing secured around seidouter end of the bail part; and a bolt, sl'idabein said bushing and disposable lower themv thel rim exterior to I0 the Gan; to hold the hook part' frornl moving I-L'Wenfdlyr 1,6; In combi-nation, 2; can. having a projecting rim and' am imperiorate Wall' portion" just under theV rim; a handle' comprising af bail part having i5 at eachy end ai bent turnedpairt disposed over the rim, ai dommtnrned Aperi-L at the. side. of the rim, andi a, part under' the rini; a tubular' bush-4 ing securedv around seid outer end of the bail part; and a bolt slidable in seid bushing and 2o disposable lower than the rim at the side remote from said down-turned part.

WILLIAM J. DO'I'Y.A

REFERENCES CITED The followinef references are of record in the le of this patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Neine Date 227,921 Pur'selr Mey` 25, 1880 249,289` Tmbelak Feb. 26, 1884 340,721 Lifchfeld Apr'. 27, 1886 388,083' Smith Aug. 21, 1888 590,907 Pendleton Sept. 28, 1897 1,721,354!` Pri'er' July 16, 1929 1,994,335V Chulan Mal'. 12, 1935 2,025,160 Everett Dec. 24, 1935 2,048,022 O'rf i July 21, 1936 2,058,128 Br'ubach Ot. 20, 1936 2,284,452 S'rs May 26, 1942 2,326,262 C'ampII May 25', 1943 2,357,054. Mudd'iinan Aug. 29', 1944' 

